Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley handed a petition against fracking to Councillor Janet Jefferson to take to North Yorkshire County Council during his visit to Scarborough.

Speaking to anti-fracking campaigners outside the Town Hall, Mr Bartley said: “We are at a huge moment in the energy policy of this country, and this is the forefront of where it’s happening. We have a Conservative Government and a Conservative Council who are looking backwards, not forwards. Pursuing fracking would be an opportunity lost. Fracking doesn’t produce the jobs.”

Cllr Jefferson, on receiving the petition, said: “It’s a pleasure to take this to Northallerton and I will email the council leader when I get home and ask him to receive it.”